London Theatres

Sightseeing & Attractions | Mar 01, 2016

London is one of the world’s great centres of theatre and has been for centuries. This was, after all, the city where many of Shakespeare’s greatest plays first appeared on the stage.

Modern theatre land focuses around London’s West End. There are over 40 theatres in London’s Theatreland as it is known. Traditionally this covers an area between the Strand, Regent Street, Oxford Street and Kingsway, but there are some other theatres just outside this area such as the Apollo Victoria in Westminster. Many of the theatres were built during the reign of Queen Victoria.

There are several very famous theatre streets including Shaftesbury Avenue and Drury Lane. Drury Lane is home the famous Theatre Royal which has provided theatrical entertainment since 1663, and has been visited by every English monarch.

There are also numerous other theatres throughout London which specialize in certain types of performance such as the Royal National Theatre, The Barbican Centre, the Open Air theatre in Regents Park, The Young Vic. The Royal Opera House in Covent Garden is one of the greatest opera houses in the world. It is the home of the Royal Ballet and the Royal Opera, and often includes performances by top names in the field of opera and ballet.

Whatever your preference you can find it in London’s Theatreland. Drama, comedy, musicals, circus – it’s all here. Many productions have been running for a long time such as Les Miserables, Cats, Phantom of the Opera, The Lion King, Thiller and of course, the perennial favourite, The Mousetrap. Agatha Christie’s murder mystery play first opened in 1952 – and has been running continuously ever since. It possesses the record for the longest running play in history!

Seeing a West End show is one of the most popular activities among travlers staying in Backpacker Hostels London. It provides a great way to have a night out on the town.

Many shows are sold out for weeks in advance, but sometimes cancellations can result in tickets suddenly becoming available. Try VisitLondon.com for details of special offers on tickets. Discounts of up to 60% may be available, and there are no hidden charges.

Lovers of Shakespeare can enjoy performances at The Globe on the South Bank. Built in the style of an Elizabethan theatre, it is unusual in that it is a round building with a thatched roof.

2016 marks the 400th anniversary of Shakespeare’s death. As a result there are major celebrations underway with parades, festivals and special performances of many of his plays. One of the most spectacular is the feast of film and animation being provided along the banks of the River Thames in April. Known as The Complete Walk, it includes 37 screens showing specially made short films relating to Shakespeare, together with clips from performances at the Globe and other historic footage. At the Bank of England museum there is a special exhibition underway focusing on designs for the £20 note which features Shakespeare and his most famous play of all – Romeo and Juliet.

So add value to your trip to London by visiting any of these theatres while staying in stylish Via limehouse hostel.